Hi there! You can call me Joy :) when I care for your pet I will send you updates with pictures and can communicate every good, not so good, and/or boring detail with you! I do not hesitate to ask for clarification on anything when it comes to the needs of you and your pet. I am also happy to help you with any other house chores while you are away (collecting mail, watering plants, etc). I find it important to set up a meet and greet with you and your pet if possible. When I care for your pet I understand that I am in the space they call home. Building trust with you and your pet is an important first step for me to provide the best services for your needs. In 2018 I adopted a dog of my own and she is my world! I adopted my dog through Best Friends Animal Shelter and she came with little to no background information. She was fearful and showed signs of a traumatized past. I had to train a puppy during the “T-Rex” phase (RIP many articles of clothing and furniture legs) and learned that several rounds of fetch will only slow a working dog for about 20 min before they’re ready to go again. The biggest skill I learned when adopting my dog was handling her reactivity. She was the sweetest girl at home, mostly shy in the beginning and hesitant to come out of her shell. So it was a huge shock when taking her out on her first few walks to see her lunge and pull with all her might towards everything and everyone that passed by. Her size and breed made it especially stressful and embarrassing and there were many days where I felt like I couldn’t handle it. With a lot of patience and treats and maybe also some crying Kona came out of her first year at home a thriving happy girl! Bringing her home was one of the most challenging experiences of my life but watching her grow and blossom into the silly, loving pup she is has been the greatest reward.